"Meet Kate Sessions, a young woman with a grand passion for trees. She has guts. She has vigor. And she has a vision - a green, leafy vision that will one day transform a city." "Kate received many honors during her lifetime, but the one that pleased her most was being called the Mother of Balboa Park" in San Diego. [Author's Note]

T antalizing taste:

"Kate felt the trees were her friends. She loved the way they reached toward the sky and how their branches stretched wide to catch the light. Trees seemed to Kate like giant umbrellas that sheltered her and the animals, birds, and plants that lived in the forest.Not everyone feels at home in the woods.But Kate did."

and something more:I was drawn to this picture book biography because I have many fond memories of visiting Balboa Park in San Diego, and I can't imagine it without its wonderful trees. Not only was Kate Sessions a true scientist (the first woman to graduate from the University of California with a degree in science), but a forward thinker. As the Author's Note of The Tree Lady explains: "In 1892 Kate made a deal with the city leaders to use land in City Park [a dry, dusty barren place] for a plant nursery. In exchange, she promised to plant one hundred trees in the park every year and give the city three hundred more trees for planting in other places." I like that the book describes her as "a tree hunter. She wrote letters to gardeners all over the world and asked them to send her seeds that could grow in a desert." Thank goodness Kate was such a good tree hunter and tree advocate.

9 comments:

Hi Jeanne.Thanks for taking part in today's Nonfiction Monday event. I've posted your blog. I love the sounds of this one and have it on order for the Doucette Library. It'll be a great addition to use with elementary science students.TammyApples with Many Seeds

This is my first to hear about Kate Sessions - how fabulous to know about her, Jeanne. I shall look for this one. And I will share this too with Fats, one of the GatheringBooks ladies, who lived in San Diego for a time before she moved to South Carolina. :)

Roberta, Yes, I think Kate Sessions must have been quite an impressive person. I agree -- it's always great to know the background of a place. I've already ordered the book for my niece who grew up there.

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occupation: first and foremost... children's book author. Also SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art) school group docent and Council Member, public library Board of Trustee member, former middle school Language Arts and Writing Workshop teacher and high-tech attorney

represented by: the fabulous Deborah Warren of East West Literary Agencyloves: children's literature, SCBWI, the beauty and power of words, modern art and architecture, chocolate, exploring new places, adventures, hiking, flower gardens, zumba, modern dance classes, my wonderful family and friends and adopted Humane Society tabby cat AND writing a true tale ... with something more!

And here's my picture book about a stellar Steller Sea Lion, a true story ...

illustrated by Shennen Bersani

ASTRO book award!

2011 Gold Mom's Choice Award

Tells the true tale of a stellar Steller sea lion, a threatened species. Only days old when found orphaned, Astro is cared for at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California. When big enough to be released, he has other plans! Astro swims back towards the Center and even joins a walk-a-thon! The book tells of his journey to his current home at the Mystic Aquariumin Connecticut.